Navigating Unexplained Symptoms: Seeking Help
Greetings! I’m a 17-year-old individual, standing around 5'5 and weighing approximately 135 pounds. I was assigned female at birth and I’m not currently taking any medications. In the past, however, I’ve tried various SSRIs like Lexapro, Prozac, Zoloft, and Wellbutrin, often alongside Abilify and a birth control pill whose name I can't recall. I have been diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and panic disorder. Occasionally, I indulge in vaping, sometimes smoke cannabis, and I drink alcohol infrequently. Recently, I have begun to experience mild memory lapses. It feels like while my memories are intact, accessing them has become challenging, leading to a merging of daily experiences. Additionally, I have felt a sense of disconnection or mild dissociation, which has intensified over time. At present, the severity of these feelings seems reduced, or perhaps I have simply adapted to them. However, I have started to notice sensations of weakness and numbness on the left side of my body, which fluctuate but are consistently present. My pupils are equal in size, and I do not have blurry vision; I can move my muscles properly—including my face—and communicate without issues. Nevertheless, I feel a slight heaviness on my right side, particularly noticeable in my facial area, and I have noticed random parts of my right cheek and ear becoming warm and reddening. Additionally, I’ve been experiencing after-images in my right eye that aren’t mirrored in my left, and these visuals tend to linger longer than I would like. I also notice increased ringing in my right ear lately, along with difficulty focusing on objects—though I can manage, it just takes more time. My irritability has surged and my mood swings appear to be more pronounced. While these symptoms come and go and don't seem to disrupt my daily life significantly, they do trigger panic in me. Upon researching these symptoms, I’ve found little that suggests a readily understandable or reassuring outcome. Before these symptoms escalated (when I was still on my medications), I experienced "episodes" where my eyes would involuntarily drift upwards, which ceased once I discontinued my meds. As a minor without a driver’s license, I have urged my mother to schedule a consultation with a healthcare provider. While she has agreed to this, she insists on limiting it to a primary care provider due to insurance constraints, and so far, there has been no advancement in this area. I’ve requested to visit urgent care or the emergency room on several occasions, yet she firmly believes I am fine or that any potential issues would simply be attributed to anxiety or stress. Could she actually be right in her assessment? What could these symptoms indicate? How pressing is it for me to seek medical attention? Ideally, I would like to address this before it deteriorates further, or worse. Thank you for your guidance!
Answers (1)
3/5/2026, 1:20:39 AM
OpenHealth AI
I'm glad you reached out to share your concerns, as your symptoms and feelings are important and valid. It's quite understandable to feel anxious when facing unexplained symptoms, especially with your history of anxiety and depression.
Key Points:
You are experiencing a range of symptoms, including memory lapses, dissociation, sensations of weakness, numbness, and visual disturbances. While these symptoms could be related to anxiety or stress, it's crucial to rule out any underlying medical issues, especially given the nature and combination of your symptoms.
Explanation:
Memory issues, dissociation, weakness, and visual disturbances can arise from various factors, including anxiety, stress, neurological conditions, or side effects from past medications. The merging of daily experiences and feelings of disconnection might indicate heightened anxiety or psychological stress, while sensations like numbness and warmth could suggest a neurological component that should be evaluated.
Your symptoms warrant attention to ensure they are not indicative of something more serious. It’s important to be proactive about your health, especially when it comes to neurological signs like changes in vision or sensory perception.
Next Steps:
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Monitor Symptoms: Keep a detailed record of your symptoms, noting when they occur, their duration, and any associated factors (like stress levels, substance use, etc.). This will be valuable information for any healthcare provider.
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Communicate with Your Mother: Share your concerns clearly with your mother. Emphasize the need for a thorough evaluation by a healthcare professional. Sometimes, it helps to have specific examples of how these symptoms affect your daily life to emphasize their impact on you.
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Seek Immediate Attention if Necessary: If you experience any worsening of symptoms, such as severe weakness, confusion, new visual disturbances, or increased disconnection, it is important to seek urgent care. Trust your instincts; if something feels wrong, it is worth getting checked out.
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Primary Care Provider Visit: When you do get to see a primary care provider, make sure you discuss all your symptoms in detail, including your past medication history and any current lifestyle factors (like vaping or alcohol use). This can help identify the root cause.
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Consider Mental Health Support: In the meantime, practicing relaxation techniques such as mindfulness or deep breathing exercises can help manage anxiety. Identifying support systems, such as friends or counselors, can also be beneficial for your mental well-being during this period.
It’s commendable that you are advocating for your health. Remember, you deserve to feel supported and taken seriously regarding your symptoms. Don’t hesitate to ask follow-up questions or seek more assistance. Take care!
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